Cleveland leaders weigh county contract, staffing and school resource officer as police recruitment lags

Mayor Don McCabe and City Council members convened a workshop on March 19, 2026, at 205 4th Street in Cleveland to discuss the future of local policing amid ongoing recruitment and retention challenges. The meeting was intended to gather information and public comment, not to make a final decision.

Police Chief Randy Tiegs told the council that law enforcement agencies across Minnesota are struggling to attract applicants and that Cleveland currently has one full-time and one part-time position posted. Tiegs described a plan in which a new full-time hire would work alongside him for about six months and could later be considered for the chief role; he said he has no immediate retirement plans but has told the council he would give six months’ written notice if he decides to step down. Mayor Don McCabe noted the 2026 budget includes funding for two full-time positions, with an expectation that the department might eventually operate with one full-time and one part-time officer.

Council Member Anne Hiller raised the option of partnering with neighboring jurisdictions, including Le Sueur County or Le Center, to help provide coverage. Council Member Tonya Schummer said preliminary information from the county indicates it would need to assign a full-time deputy dedicated to Cleveland to provide roughly 40 hours of patrol coverage per week; dispatch would be provided by the county and contractual costs would be spelled out if the City proceeded toward a formal agreement. The council did not vote on any change to services during the workshop.

Residents who spoke during public comment urged the council to retain local policing where possible and raised specific concerns about coverage and responsiveness. Barry Platt asked whether Le Sueur County would bill the City for administrative time in addition to patrol hours; Council Member Schummer replied that the county would provide dispatch and that contract costs would be outlined by the county. Brad Strobel said he valued seeing Chief Tiegs and part-time officers at the school and community events and worried about how coverage would be affected if local officers were not available for an emergency elsewhere in the county.

Several commenters and council members discussed school safety and funding for a School Resource Officer (SRO). Council Member Nancy Gens suggested the City and Cleveland Public Schools pursue state or federal grant opportunities to fund an SRO. Cleveland Public School Superintendent Dustin Bosshart said he supports an SRO and described a prior grant-funded arrangement at a different district in which an SRO was present about three days per week.

Council Member Hiller said she contacted Hibbing Technical College and reported the most recent graduating class had 14 students, six of whom obtained employment; she said she was told smaller communities are sometimes seen by graduates as entry-level placements. Gwyn Ploog asked whether the City would continue to be responsible for maintaining vehicles and equipment if the county provided services; Schummer said the county would utilize and maintain vehicles and equipment through the end of their useful life. Community Service Officer Mike Kollos announced he has applied for a full-time police position, said he lives in the community and that he is scheduled to graduate in June. The minutes also note a letter from Cassidy Block expressing support for the Cleveland Police Department.

No policy change or service contract was approved at the workshop. The council moved to adjourn at 6:55 p.m.; Council Member Anne Hiller made the motion, Nancy Gens seconded it, and the minutes record the vote as Yes — All. The minutes also state workshop minutes require no signature and include a note that workshops do not make binding votes on service changes.

The council indicated it will continue exploring options, including continued local recruitment, partnership with the county, and pursuing grant funding with the school district for an SRO.